Evaluation of Semen Quality of
Holstein
Friesian and
Jersey
Bulls Maintained under Subtropical Environment
M. Fiaz*,
R. H. Usmani1,M. Abdullah and T. Ahmad2
Department of Livestock Production, Faculty of Animal Production and
Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore;
1Ministry
of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Islamabad; 2Department
of Livestock Production and Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture
University, Murree Road, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
fiaz_210719@yahoo.com
Abstract
Semen production data of Holstein-Friesian and
Jersey
bulls collected over a period of three years was analyzed to examine seasonal
effects on quantity and quality of semen. Purebred breeding bulls of
Holstein-Friesian and
Jersey
breeds (n = 18 for each breed), maintained under naturally ventilated open-sided
sheds, were used for semen collection. Meteorological information on ambient
temperature, relative humidity and rainfall was used to divide the calendar year
into two stressful summer seasons viz; dry summer (April - June) and wet summer
(July–September) and a stress free season (October - March). The number of
ejaculates per bull recorded during three seasons were not significantly
different (P>0.05) in both breeds. Friesian bulls produced lower ejaculatory
volume during dry summer season, whereas
Jersey
bulls produced higher (P<0.05) volume during wet summer compared to other
seasons. Seasonal pattern of mass motility and individual motility of semen was
different between two breeds. The mass motility of semen in both breeds was
significantly lower during wet summer. However, individual
motility in the semen of Friesian bulls did not differ among seasons (P>0.05)
but in
Jersey
bulls it was lower during wet summer
than other seasons. Wet summer resulted in reduced number of semen doses frozen
per bull in both breeds. The results of this study indicated that wet summer
season deteriorated semen quality in terms of mass motility, individual motility
and number of doses in both breeds, except individual motility in semen of
Friesian bulls.